Mobile terminal

Abstract

A mobile terminal is disclosed. The mobile terminal comprises: a case; an input module installed at the case, the input module acquiring a touch input of a user; and a controller generating a control signal, wherein the input module includes: a button having a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes located on the case; a capacitive sensor located in the case, the capacitive sensor acquiring a variation of a electrostatic capacitance in accordance with the touch input; and a dielectric layer located between the button and the capacitive sensor; wherein the electrostatic capacitance includes: a first electrostatic capacitance generated between the user and the capacitive sensor through the plurality of holes; and a second electrostatic capacitance generated between the button and the capacitive sensor, and wherein the controller generates the control signal when the capacitive sensor acquires the variations of the first and second electrostatic capacitances.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile terminal comprising:
 a case having an inner space, a metal surface and a plurality of holes formed on the metal surface, the plurality of holes communicating with an outside of the case and the inner space; 
 a capacitive sensor positioned in the case, spaced apart from the metal surface, and facing the plurality of holes, the capacitive sensor acquiring a variation of an electrostatic capacitance; and 
 a controller generating a control signal, 
 wherein the plurality of holes acquires a touch input of a user, 
 wherein the electrostatic capacitance includes: 
 a first electrostatic capacitance generated between the user and the capacitive sensor through the plurality of holes; and 
 a second electrostatic capacitance generated between the metal surface and the capacitive sensor, 
 wherein the controller generates a control signal when the capacitive sensor acquires a variation of the first electrostatic capacitance and a variation of the second electrostatic capacitance, and 
 wherein the mobile terminal further comprises: 
 an input module installed at the case and a button having the plurality of holes, the input module acquiring the touch input of the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a dielectric layer positioned between the metal surface and the capacitive sensor. 
     
     
       3. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor acquires the variation of the first electrostatic capacitance in accordance with the touch input in the plurality of holes. 
     
     
       4. The mobile terminal of  claim 3 , wherein the metal surface comprises a region adjacent to the plurality of holes, and
 wherein the capacitive sensor acquires the variation of the second electrostatic capacitance according to a distance variation between the region and the capacitive sensor. 
 
     
     
       5. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor transforms the electrostatic capacitance into a voltage, and
 wherein the capacitive sensor acquires the variation of the electrostatic capacitance when the capacitive sensor measures the voltage. 
 
     
     
       6. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the input module is located on a rear surface of the case. 
     
     
       7. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes a metal. 
     
     
       8. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of holes is filled with a first member, and
 wherein a substance of the first member is different from a substance of the case. 
 
     
     
       9. The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the first member is dielectric. 
     
     
       10. The mobile terminal of  claim 8 , wherein the first member is transparent. 
     
     
       11. The mobile terminal of  claim 10 , wherein the button includes a plurality of buttons, and
 wherein at least one of the plurality of buttons emits light through the first member. 
 
     
     
       12. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the button includes:
 a first channel forming at least one hole among the plurality of holes; and 
 a second channel forming at least another hole among the plurality of holes, the second channel spaced apart from the first channel. 
 
     
     
       13. The mobile terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the second channel is located at an outer circumference of the first channel. 
     
     
       14. The mobile terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the controller generates the control signal when the touch input is applied on both the first and second channels. 
     
     
       15. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , further comprising a push key acquiring an input from the user,
 wherein the button includes a first button and a second button, and 
 wherein the push key is positioned between the first button and the second button. 
 
     
     
       16. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the controller generates the control signal based on at least one of a moving speed of the touch input, an intensity of the touch input, a number of touches of the touch input, and a duration time of the touch input. 
     
     
       17. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the capacitive sensor includes a plurality of sensor arrays electrically insulated from each other. 
     
     
       18. The mobile terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal includes at least one of a signal for a voice recording, a signal for stopping the voice recording, a signal for photographing, a signal for focusing a picture, a signal for capturing a screen, a signal for converting into a silent mode, and a signal for converting into a vibration mode.